Electronic Arts skips Christmas

So Electronics Arts had a bad holiday season, as cited in the company's revision of earnings estimates late Monday.

Gee, no way anyone could have seen that coming. Who would have figured that titles such as "Ty the Tasmanian Tiger 2" and "Armies of Exigo" wouldn't go head-to-head at the cash register with "Halo 2" and "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas?"

The immediate future doesn't hold much more promise of breakthrough hits--"Rugby 2005," anyone? But hyperventilating investors, who pounded EA's stock down by more than 15 percent Tuesday, are advised to take a deep breath and remember that the most wonderful time of the year for EA is always early August, when a new installment in the "Madden NFL" annuity arrives.